Jelena Ostapenko recently found herself at the center of controversy following her straight-set defeat to Taylor Townsend during the US Open. That clash, which resulted in a 7-5, 6-2 win for Townsend, featured an intense exchange that soon went viral between the two competitors. After the match, Ostapenko took to the mic to rip Townsend anew. She criticized Townsend for not having any “class” because she failed to apologize for a heated moment in the game.
The bad call happened at a pivotal time when Townsend had just earned the break with a lucky net cord. In reply, Ostapenko called her out for being “disrespectful” by failing to apologize. This unfathomable racist and misogynistic comment made the rounds on social media, especially by tennis star Naomi Osaka, who discussed the ramifications of Ostapenko’s statement. Osaka further explained that these types of comments are most damaging coming from the backdrop of race in sporting events.
“I think obviously it’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport,” – Naomi Osaka.
Following the public outcry, playing quarterfinalist Ostapenko addressed her comments on social media. She admitted that English is not her first language and perhaps her language could be misinterpreted.
“English is not my native language, so when I said education, I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette, but I understand how the words I used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court,” – Jelena Ostapenko.
America’s gifted Taylor Townsend made waves by sailing to the fourth round of the US Open. In the interim, she announced that she has still not heard from Ostapenko personally regarding her comments or the subsequent apology issued already. She emphasized that she remains focused on her performance and upcoming matches.
“I mean, the fact of the matter is, like I said the other day, I’m still playing. So I don’t have time to be tapped in on what she’s got going on and what she says,” – Taylor Townsend.
Townsend’s upset of Mirra Andreeva on Friday was as brilliant a display of fighting spirit as it was shot making talent. She is looking forward to her upcoming match against Barbora Krejčíková. Her immediate hope is to extend her remarkable streak deep into this year’s tournament.
Ostapenko’s remarks had not only been a personal insult, they highlighted deeper issues regarding behavior and respect in athletics. The backlash underscores the need for athletes to think about what they say, particularly in a multi-faceted and international community like sports.
As discussions about race and conduct continue to unfold within tennis, both players remain focused on their respective journeys in the tournament. As Ostapenko deals with the aftermath of her remarks, Townsend is on to her next challenge.
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